Berezkin Analytical Catalogue · Motif

M63 — An enumeration of body members

66 Myths, legends and folktales
66 Unique narratives for motif M63
51 Cultures & traditions where M63 is told
0 Sub-motifs of motif M63
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Source data for narratives and traditions is drawn from Berezkin’s Analytical Catalogue. If you use this data, please acknowledge and link to it: Ю.Е. Березкин, Е.Н. Дувакин. Тематическая классификация и распределение фольклорно-мифологических мотивов по ареалам. Аналитический каталог.

Summary of motif

Overview

Before reaching the part of the body that is most suitable for certain purposes, others are named or tried. (Cf. Motive F22: The enumeration is related to finding the partner's genitals).

Berezkin category: Adventures: Tricks and episodes

This is of motif type Adventures and tricks and is part of group 10, Adventures.

Top 10 motifs with similar dispersal patterns

Phylogeny
MotifSimilarityMotif summary
F9A96.68%There are teeth, blades or sharp stones in a woman's vagina or on the inside of her thighs; the vagina is a toothy mouth. (Only texts with a focus on authenticity are taken into account, not anecdotes).
F2295.81%The character asks a person of the opposite sex about the purpose of the part of the body used for sexual intercourse (usually after asking questions about other parts). Alternatively, the character tries out different parts of the body for sexual intercourse or for placing the genitals. Cf. motif M63.
H32A94.99%A young woman is the embodiment of fertility; she comes to live with people, and food becomes readily available. The woman is wronged, she leaves, and the superabundance ends.
F1793.68%Human genitals were initially located, should have been located, or could have been located under certain circumstances not where they are now; either there were no genitals initially, or people did not know their purpose and copulated using other parts of the body.
L3493.63%The character kills or maims the enemy by setting fire to their clothes, mask, headdress, hair, or an object behind their back.
K8693.59%A small (usually capricious) child is ignored, sent away from home, abandoned on the road, or given to another person for a time. As a result, the child is carried away by an animal or a spirit.
F1093.53%A woman has a second mouth (usually in her vagina) with sharp teeth. A man inserts or throws a stone, bone, stick, etc. into this mouth, knocking out the teeth or extracting toothy animals from it in this way.
F28D93.20%By masturbating with an artificial penis, a woman conceives children.
G293.16%A character embodying fertility and life, who first disappears and then (periodically) returns.
L5492.90%To overcome the disaster, hot stones or ashes are thrown into the water.

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Map of motif dispersal

Distribution

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Traditions

51 recorded

This motif has been recorded in 51 traditions: Kabylia and other Berber of Northern and Central Algeria: Beni Snous, Beni Menacer (incl Zuav), Shaui, etc.), Bemba (Wemba, Babemba; incl Ambo, Lala, Lamba, Bisa), Holoholo, Kaonde, Maka (Makaa), Baya, Kaka, Bushmen (all groups), Marquesas, Hawaii, Truk, Eastern Fayu, Losap, Pulap, Puluwat, Mortlock (incl. Satawan), Northern Luzon: Apayao, Bontoc, Nabaloi (Ibaloi), Ifugao, Igorot (highland people, not specified), Ilocan, Ilongot, Isneg, Kalinga, Kankanay, Tingian (Tinggian, Bilongan Itneg); Ibanag, Kasiguran Agta, Keley-i Kallahan, Southern Taiwan: Rukai, Paiwan, Puyuma, Saaroa, Ketangalan, Northern Taiwan: Atayal (Tayal; Taruko (Toda, Taokas, Torok, Taroko), Pazeh, Sedeq (Sediq, Seedeq, Sazek), Saisiyat (Saixia), Konds (Khonds; language is Kui, incl Kuttia, Konda-Dora), Koya; Pengo, Gondi (mostly Northern Gondi), Tamil, Muthuvan, Marvar, Tamils, Lepcha, Bulgarians, Balkarians, Western Ukrainians, Nenets, Uilta (Orok), Kaska, Iglulik, Baffin Land Inuit, Kwakiutl (Kwakwaka'wakw), Thompson (Nlaka'pamux), Lillooet, Lower Chehalis, Upper Chehalis, (Lower) Cowlitz, Western Sahaptin (Upper Cowlitz, Klikitat, Tenino, Umatilla, Yakima, Wallawalla), Tillamook, Oregon Athabaskans: Lower Umpqua, Tututni (incl Joshua), Upper Coquille, Galice, Tolowa, Ohlone (Costanoan), Kawaiisu, Ute, Chemehuevi, Jicarilla, Chiricahua, Kiliwa, Aztec; Aztec and Teotihuacan iconography, Kekchi; Mopan, Cuna; XVI century data on Eastern Panama, Sicuani, Piaroa, Guiana KariΓ±a, KaliΓ±a, Galibi, Baniwa (incl. Wakuenai), Bare, Piapoco, Curripaco, Siusi, Guarikena , Xipaya, Chipaya, Amahuaca, Cashinahua, Sharanahua, Yaminahua, Yawanahua, Capanahua), Rikbaktsa, Makka, Yamana (Yaghan), Alacaluf, Upper Chinook: Wasco, Wishram, Clackamas, Kathlamet, Eastern Ukrainians, Northern Ukrainians

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